Chapter 124: Days Dominated by Fear

For Zhao Fusheng, the terrifying thing about Fan Baobao was that she always habitually imposed her own ideas on him. Although her intentions were good, the consequences, in Zhao Fusheng's words, were a disaster.

“Put your things away, and let’s go eat together.” Fan Baobao thought for a moment and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Even though she had already eaten dinner, since Zhao Fusheng had just arrived in Beijing and hadn’t even settled in, he surely hadn’t eaten either. So she thought to take him out for a meal.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head. “No need, I’ll just grab a quick bite on my own. It’s getting late; you should head back to the dorm.”

It was almost eight o’clock, and it wasn’t safe for two girls to be out.

That was Zhao Fusheng’s intention, but unexpectedly, Fan Baobao glared at him. “What, you don’t want to eat with me?”

With a sigh, Zhao Fusheng turned and went into the room, took two bags of red sausages from his suitcase, and handed them to Fan Baobao. “I bought these at Qiulin Company on my way here. Take them back and share them with your roommates.”

Then he looked at Zhou Yun. “You’re older than me, so I’ll call you Sister Yun. Baobao has a quick temper. If she does anything wrong in the future, please bear with her.”

Regarding Zhou Yun, if Zhao Fusheng’s memory served him right, she would later become a third party and marry a famous actor and director renowned nationwide. But that was a long time off and had nothing to do with him, so he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention.

Zhou Yun glanced at Zhao Fusheng with some surprise. She hadn’t expected that Fan Baobao’s fiancé would be so adept at dealing with people, no less than those who had worked in society.

Zhao Fusheng didn’t think there was anything wrong. In his view, since Fan Baobao had left Ninghai to study in Beijing, now that he was in the capital, he should help her out.

As for staying in a hotel, Zhao Fusheng didn’t care much. For him, if he could wear custom leather shoes worth thousands or even tens of thousands, he wouldn’t choose Warrior canvas shoes; if he could wear Armani or Pierre Cardin, he would never wear street stall goods.

But the prerequisite was that he had to have the means.

Everyone has dignity and pride, but unless one has experienced poverty and hardship, gone through days of eating only one steamed bun without even affording pickles, and haggled over every few cents for utilities and mortgage, one wouldn’t know that dignity and pride are often luxuries.

Bowing and scraping, humbling oneself before others—no one enjoys that. Who is born liking to be beneath others?

But life is like that; it always likes to grind everyone down and torment them over and over. Those bastards who preach morality while engaging in deceit probably find it hard to understand that a small person struggling to live better often has to pay a heavy price.

…

…

“You really won’t eat?”

Fan Baobao looked at Zhao Fusheng helplessly, feeling frustrated. No matter what she said, Zhao Fusheng absolutely refused to have dinner with her.

“No. I came to Beijing on business, not to sightsee.” Zhao Fusheng looked seriously at Fan Baobao. “I have things to do tomorrow. I’ll just grab a quick bite and go to sleep.”

“Business?” Fan Baobao was taken aback. This answer from Zhao Fusheng was unexpected.

“Yeah, my advisor sent me. Um, she knows you.” Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said to Fan Baobao.

He couldn’t keep the fact that he was helping his family make money a secret from Fan Baobao and Li Yuan forever; he had to reveal a little.

“Knows me?” Fan Baobao was completely baffled, not understanding what Zhao Fusheng meant.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and blinked. “Her name is Zheng Yao.”

“Ah, President Zheng?” Fan Baobao was startled. The impression Zheng Yao had left on her was too deep. More importantly, without Zheng Yao’s keen eye in choosing her as the advertising heroine for Qingzui Throat Lozenges, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to come to the Central Academy of Drama for further study.

So, to a large extent, Fan Baobao regarded Zheng Yao as a benefactor.

“Yeah, she’s my advisor. Future Advertising is developing well now. Teacher Zheng recruited a group of people from among us students, and I’m one of them.” Zhao Fusheng spoke half-truthfully.

Fan Baobao also had classmates at Ninghai Normal University. Even if she went to inquire, the answers she got would be similar to what he said.

“That’s impressive?” Zhou Yun was shocked. If she remembered correctly, Zhao Fusheng had just said he was a junior like her. Yet he had already found a job—truly remarkable.

“It’s nothing. Teacher Zheng just thought my abilities were decent and let me help out at the company first.” Zhao Fusheng said modestly with a smile.

Fan Baobao was naturally very happy. She didn’t overthink it, assuming Zhao Fusheng was just an assistant or something, since advertising designers were usually big shots who had been immersed in the industry for years.

“So what business are you handling in Beijing?” Fan Baobao finally asked Zhao Fusheng seriously.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. “The company took on the advertising design for Brain Gold. I’m here to confirm some things. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”

He could only say that. If he said he had agreed to help Mu Qingqing revise a song, he figured Miss Fan would tear down the hotel and tear him apart too.

Fan Baobao didn’t suspect anything. After giving Zhao Fusheng some instructions, she left.

Actually, Zhao Fusheng knew she still had other questions, but with Zhou Yun there, she couldn’t say much.

Having known each other for so many years since childhood, their understanding of each other was clear. Fan Baobao felt something was off about Zhao Fusheng gaining Zheng Yao’s favor and joining Future Advertising.

Zhao Fusheng knew that too, but what he had just said was half-truth and half-lie. Not only Fan Baobao, but even his parents had been fooled the same way.

After all, except for his position at Future Advertising, everything else was basically true.

Lying quietly in bed, Zhao Fusheng tried hard to recall his memories of those years at the Central Academy of Drama, but he helplessly found that aside from vaguely remembering a few names, he could recall very little.

There are many unspeakable things in the world; just hold onto a bit of truth in your heart.

Zhao Fusheng knew very well what he needed and what he had. This trip to Beijing, rather than helping Mu Qingqing or visiting Fan Baobao, was more about wanting to see what the Four-Nine City was like at this time.

A golden scale is no mere pond dweller; when it meets the wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon.

For Zhao Fusheng, what he lacked now was just an opportunity.